Sinister productivity-harvesting firm Rescue Time has released a few statistics suggesting that Google’s playable Pac-Man logo cost the global economy millions of hypothetical dollars.
According to the Rescue Time numbers, around $120 million USD in revenue was consumed by the munching yellow chap.
The calculations feature some dubious assumptions, however, such as an average ‘google user’ wage of $25.00 USD per hour which seems high when compared with the Consumer Price Index adjusted average US hourly wage of $17.00 USD. Rescue Time also falls into the trap of assuming that the time spent on Pac-Man is always being ‘taken’ from a work hour which was 100% productive to begin with.In fairness, it seems Rescue Time is well aware that the conclusions are somewhat spurious. The author of the article posts below it, saying “Just to be pre-emptive. No, we don’t REALLY think it’s tragic. Leisure surfing is critical to productivity (strangely enough).”
Google has found Pac-Man to be so successful, that the classic coin-op is now a permanent feature.
